Hope Alliance Bethlehem

In our tiredness, pursuing a relationship with God can feel overwhelming.  For some, the experience of pursuing God is tiring.  Our posture toward God is the key to unlocking a life-giving, dynamic relationship.  Rather than being another thing to do, our connection to God becomes the means by which we gain true identity and rest for our souls.

Our world is obsessed with performance.  And when we buy into the lie that our value comes from our performance it leads to exhaustion.  The gospel tells us that God loves us even though we have nothing good to offer.  We we believe this truth we find true life and rest for our weary souls.

As the story of Jonah comes to a close, we find a disgruntled, self-righteous prophet throwing a tantrum.  His anger has overcome him and his entitlement complex has paralyzed him.  And remarkably, we still find God relentlessly pursuing him.  Will God's compassion lead Jonah to return to God?

God loves the world and is patiently pursuing its rescue and restoration.  Humanity's only response to this is what the Bible calls repentance - a turning away from our rebellion and toward God.  In Nineveh, we see that this is possible even in the most unlikely places. 

Sometimes our present circumstances aren't always the easiest.  How can we be grateful people, even in the belly of a fish?  We have to believe that our past circumstances were as dire as they truly were and that our future victory is as certain as it truly is.  And as we come to grips with God's gracious rescue, our love for him only deepens.

How does a prophet run from the God he serves?  When his heart is just as hard as those God has called him to.  As the book of Jonah opens, we see that it is less about a prophet sent to a foreign people and more about a God who pursues all of humanity (even rebellious prophets) and lovingly seeks their restoration.

Jesus outrageous command to love our enemies is not simply a moralistic call to a different way of living.  It is a gospel-centered call to a different way of viewing humanity.  Those who have been shown mercy are called to show mercy to others.  And our identity as children of God make this possible.

Because of the grace and mercy God has given us, we love our neighbors by being people of justice.  That means we have compassion for and take action on behalf of our weak, less fortunate, and oppressed neighbors.

For many if not most Christians, sharing our faith is a scary reality.  But the apostle Paul tells us we don't have to be afraid or ashamed to do it.  He reminds us that the gospel is powerfully good news for everyone.  

Peter urges his readers to offer hospitality without grumbling.  What he means is that radical hospitality is not just and open house, but open hands and an open heart.  This kind of love for our neighbor is only possible when we realize that we too are strangers who have been welcomed in by God.